Is Al Smith #228 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1991 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Al Smith #228 sell for $16.00, only $14.84 above the $1.16 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.16
- Grade 9.5
- $16.00
- PSA 9
- $14.95
- Gem premium
- 14×
- As of
- Sep 2, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $16.00 | −$10.16 | −$35.16 | −$135 |
| PSA 9 | $14.95 | −$11.21 | −$36.21 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $1.16 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $15.21 | −$35.95 |
| 50% | $15.47 | −$35.69 |
| 75% | $15.74 | −$35.42 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Al Smith #228 — FAQ
Is Al Smith #228 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Al Smith #228 sell for $16.00, only $14.84 above the $1.16 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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